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{{short description|42nd Chief Justice of India}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox Judge
{{Infobox Judge
| image = Justice H. L. Dattu BNC.jpg
| image = Justice H. L. Dattu BNC.jpg
|honorific_prefix =
| honorific-prefix = '''Hon'ble Justice'''
| name = Handyala Lakshminarayanaswamy Dattu
| name = H. L. Dattu
| imagesize =
| caption =
| caption =
| order = 42nd
| order = [[List of Chief Justices of India|42nd]]
| office = Chief Justice of India
| office = Chief Justice of India
| term_start = 28 September 2014
| term_start = 28 September 2014
| term_end = 2 December 2015
| term_end = 2 December 2015
| appointer = [[Pranab Mukherjee]]
| appointer = [[Pranab Mukherjee]]
| predecessor = [[Rajendra Mal Lodha]]
| predecessor = [[Rajendra Mal Lodha]]
| successor = [[T. S. Thakur]]
| successor = [[T. S. Thakur]]
| office1 = Judge of the [[Supreme Court of India]]
| office1 = Judge, Supreme Court of India
| termstart1 = 17 December 2008
| termstart1 = 17 December 2008
| termend1 = 28 September 2014
| office2 = Judge of the [[High Court of Karnataka]]
| termend1 = 28 September 2014
| office2 = Judge, [[High Court of Karnataka]]
| termstart2 = 18 December 1995
| termstart2 = 18 December 1995
| termend2 = 12 February 2007
⚫
| office3 = Chief Justice of the [[Chhattisgarh High Court]]
| termend2 = 12 February 2007
| office3 = Chief Justice of [[Chhattisgarh High Court]]
| termstart3 = 12 February 2007
| termstart3 = 12 February 2007
| termend3 = 18 May 2007
⚫
| office4 = Chief Justice of the [[Kerala High Court]]
| termend3 = 18 May 2007
| office4 = Chief Justice of [[Kerala High Court]]
| termstart4 = 18 May 2007
| termstart4 = 18 May 2007
| termend4 = 17 December 2008
⚫
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1950|12|3|df=yes}}
| termend4 = 17 December 2008
⚫
| birth_place = Chikkapattanagere, [[Chikmagalur]], [[Mysore State]] (present-day [[Karnataka]]), India
⚫
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1950|12|3|df=yes}}
⚫
| birth_place = Chikkapattanagere, [[Chikmagalur]], [[Mysore State]], India
}}
}}
'''H. L. Dattu''' (born 3 December 1950) is a former [[Chief Justice of India]](CJI),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.supremecourtofindia.nic.in/judges/bio/sitting/hldattu.htm|title=Hon'ble Mr. Justice Handyala Lakshminarayanaswamy Dattu|work=Supreme Court of India|accessdate=10 March 2010|archivedate=2010-03-10|archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/5o81lEhdU}}</ref> and the current chairman of the [[National Human Rights Commission of India|National Human Rights Commission]].<ref name=BStd20160229>{{Cite news |title=Justice H.L. Dattu joins NHRC as Chairperson |url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/justice-h-l-dattu-joins-nhrc-as-chairperson-116022900488_1.html |date=29 February 2016 |newspaper=[[Business Standard]] |agency=[[Asian News International|ANI]] |access-date=14 June 2016}}</ref> As the CJI he served for nearly 14 months, from 28 September 2014 to 2 December 2015. Before his elevation as a judge of the [[Supreme Court of India]] on 17 December 2008; he had served as the Chief Justice of [[Kerala High Court]] and [[Chhattisgarh High Court]].<ref name=NIE>{{cite news|title=Justice H L Dattu Sworn-in as Chief Justice of India|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/Justice-H-L-Dattu-Sworn-in-as-Chief-Justice-of-India/2014/09/28/article2453479.ece|accessdate=28 September 2014|work=New Indian Express|agency=IANS & ENS|issue=IANS & ENS|date=28 September 2014}}</ref><ref name=LI-app>{{cite news|title=Welcome Chief Justice of India HL Dattu: Sworn in for 14-month term|url=http://www.legallyindia.com/201409285127/Bar-Bench-Litigation/welcome-chief-justice-of-india-hl-dattu-sworn-in-for-14-month-term|accessdate=28 September 2014|agency=IANS|issue=Legally India|date=28 September 2014}}</ref>
'''Handyala Lakshminarayanaswamy Dattu ''' (born 3 December 1950) is a former [[Chief Justice of India]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.supremecourtofindia.nic.in/judges/bio/sitting/hldattu.htm|title=Hon'ble Mr. Justice Handyala Lakshminarayanaswamy Dattu|work=Supreme Court of India|access-date=10 March 2010|archive-date=29 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100329041929/http://www.supremecourtofindia.nic.in/judges/bio/sitting/hldattu.htm|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> and the former chairman of the [[National Human Rights Commission of India|National Human Rights Commission]].<ref name=BStd20160229>{{Cite news |title=Justice H.L. Dattu joins NHRC as Chairperson |url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/justice-h-l-dattu-joins-nhrc-as-chairperson-116022900488_1.html |date=29 February 2016 |newspaper=[[Business Standard]] |agency=[[Asian News International|ANI]] |access-date=14 June 2016}}</ref> As the chief justice, he served for nearly 14 months, from 28 September 2014 to 2 December 2015. Before his elevation as a judge of the [[Supreme Court of India]] on 17 December 2008; he had served as the Chief Justice of the [[Kerala High Court]] and the [[Chhattisgarh High Court]].<ref name=NIE>{{cite news|title=Justice H L Dattu Sworn-in as Chief Justice of India|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/Justice-H-L-Dattu-Sworn-in-as-Chief-Justice-of-India/2014/09/28/article2453479.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140928142614/http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/Justice-H-L-Dattu-Sworn-in-as-Chief-Justice-of-India/2014/09/28/article2453479.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 September 2014|access-date=28 September 2014|work=New Indian Express|agency=IANS & ENS|issue=IANS & ENS|date=28 September 2014}}</ref><ref name=LI-app>{{cite news|title=Welcome Chief Justice of India HL Dattu: Sworn in for 14-month term|url=http://www.legallyindia.com/201409285127/Bar-Bench-Litigation/welcome-chief-justice-of-india-hl-dattu-sworn-in-for-14-month-term|access-date=28 September 2014|agency=IANS|issue=Legally India|date=28 September 2014}}</ref><ref name=SCI>{{cite web|title=Hon'ble Mr. Justice H.L. Dattu|url=http://supremecourtofindia.nic.in/judges/sjud/hldattu.htm|publisher=Supreme Court of India|access-date=28 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140922052108/http://supremecourtofindia.nic.in/judges/sjud/hldattu.htm|archive-date=22 September 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name=KHC>{{cite web|title=Chief Justice H. L. Dattu|url=http://highcourtofkerala.nic.in/hldattu.html|publisher=Kerala High Court|access-date=28 September 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=SCI>{{cite web|title=Hon'ble Mr. Justice H.L. Dattu|url=http://supremecourtofindia.nic.in/judges/sjud/hldattu.htm|publisher=Supreme Court of India|accessdate=28 September 2014}}</ref><ref name=KHC>{{cite web|title=Chief Justice H. L. Dattu|url=http://highcourtofkerala.nic.in/hldattu.html|publisher=Kerala High Court|accessdate=28 September 2014}}</ref>


==Early life and education==
==Early life and education==
Handyala Lakshminarayanaswamy Dattu was born in Chikkapattanagere village in Chikmagalur district of [[Mysore State]] (now [[Karnataka]]). His father H L Narayanaswamy was an English teacher. He completed his early education in Kadur, Tarikere, and Birur, before moving to Bengaluru where he completed his [[LLB]].<ref name=NIE-hard>{{cite news|last1=Sarda|first1=Kanu|title=Hard Taskmaster Dattu Steps in as CJI|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/thesundaystandard/Hard-Taskmaster-Dattu-Steps-in-as-CJI/2014/09/28/article2452710.ece|accessdate=10 October 2014|work=[[The New Indian Express]]|date=28 September 2014}}</ref><ref name=IE-792014>{{cite web|last1=Anand|first1=Utkarsh|title=Next Chief Justice a ‘court employee’ who guards his personal space|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/next-chief-justice-a-court-employee-who-guards-his-personal-space/99/|publisher=[[Indian Express]]|accessdate=10 October 2014}}</ref>
Handyala Lakshminarayanaswamy Dattu was born in Chikkapattanagere village in Chikmagalur district of [[Mysore State]] (present-day [[Karnataka]]). His father H L Narayanaswamy was an English teacher. He completed his early education in Kadur, Tarikere, and Birur, before moving to Bengaluru where he completed his [[Bachelor of Laws]].<ref name=NIE-hard>{{cite news|last1=Sarda|first1=Kanu|title=Hard Taskmaster Dattu Steps in as CJI|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/thesundaystandard/Hard-Taskmaster-Dattu-Steps-in-as-CJI/2014/09/28/article2452710.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140928143036/http://www.newindianexpress.com/thesundaystandard/Hard-Taskmaster-Dattu-Steps-in-as-CJI/2014/09/28/article2452710.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 September 2014|access-date=10 October 2014|work=[[The New Indian Express]]|date=28 September 2014}}</ref><ref name=IE-792014>{{cite web|last1=Anand|first1=Utkarsh|title=Next Chief Justice a 'court employee' who guards his personal space|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/next-chief-justice-a-court-employee-who-guards-his-personal-space/99/|publisher=[[Indian Express]]|access-date=10 October 2014}}</ref>


==Career as a lawyer==
==Career ==
===As a lawyer===
Dattu was enrolled as an advocate at the bar on 23 October 1975. He practised at Bengaluru in civil, criminal, constitutional, and taxation matters. He appeared as government counsel in the Karnataka High court for the sales tax department from 1983 to 1990, government advocate from 1990 to 1993, standing counsel for the income tax department from 1992 to 1993, and a senior standing counsel for the Income Tax department from 1993 to 1995.<ref name=NIE /><ref name=LI-app />
Dattu was enrolled as an advocate at the bar on 23 October 1975. He practised at Bengaluru in civil, criminal, constitutional, and taxation matters. He appeared as government counsel in the Karnataka High court for the sales tax department from 1983 to 1990, government advocate from 1990 to 1993, standing counsel for the income tax department from 1992 to 1993, and a senior standing counsel for the Income Tax department from 1993 to 1995.<ref name=NIE /><ref name=LI-app />


==As a judge==
===As a judge===
Dattu was appointed a judge of the [[Karnataka High Court]] on 18 December 1995. Thereafter, on 12 February 2007; he was elevated as Chief Justice of Chhattisgarh High Court. On 18 May 2007, he was transferred to head the Kerala High Court.<ref name=NIE /> On 5 September 2014, the [[President of India]] had appointed Dattu as the next Chief Justice of India, on the recommendation of CJI [[Rajendra Mal Lodha|{{nowrap|R M}} Lodha]]. On 28 September 2014, he was sworn in as the 42nd Chief Justice of India.<ref>{{cite news|title=Justice HL Dattu appointed next Chief Justice of India|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Justice-HL-Dattu-appointed-next-Chief-Justice-of-India/articleshow/41843728.cms|accessdate=7 September 2014|publisher=Times of India}}</ref> He held the post for a little over a year until his retirement on 2 December 2015, on turning 65 years of age - one of the longest tenures for a CJI in recent years.<ref name=NIE /><ref name=LI-app />
Dattu was appointed a judge of the [[Karnataka High Court]] on 18 December 1995. Thereafter, on 12 February 2007; he was elevated as Chief Justice of the Chhattisgarh High Court. On 18 May 2007, he was transferred to head the Kerala High Court.<ref name=NIE /> On 5 September 2014, the [[President of India]] had appointed Dattu as the next Chief Justice of India, on the recommendation of CJI [[Rajendra Mal Lodha]]. On 28 September 2014, he was sworn in as the 42nd Chief Justice of India.<ref>{{cite news|title=Justice HL Dattu appointed next Chief Justice of India|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Justice-HL-Dattu-appointed-next-Chief-Justice-of-India/articleshow/41843728.cms|access-date=7 September 2014|publisher=Times of India}}</ref> He held the post for a little over a year until his retirement on 2 December 2015, on turning 65 years of age – one of the longest tenures for a CJI in recent years.<ref name=NIE /><ref name=LI-app />


Over the course of his tenure on the Supreme Court, Dattu authored 117 judgments.<ref>{{Cite web |title=HL Dattu |url=https://www.scobserver.in/judges/hl-dattu/ |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=Supreme Court Observer |language=en-US}}</ref>
⚫
In February 2014, Dattu was nominated by then CJI [[P Sathasivam]] as the CJI's nominee to the five-membered panel to appoint the [[Lokpal]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Esthose Suresh|first1=Appu|title=CJI nominates Justice Dattu to Lokpal selection panel|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/cji-nominates-justice-dattu-to-lokpal-selection-panel/|accessdate=15 October 2014|work=Indian Express|date=3 February 2014}}</ref> He is the visitor of [[Hidayatullah National Law University|Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur]].<ref name=HNLU>{{cite web|title=About HNLU|url=http://hnlu.ac.in/HNLU_New/home2/index.php/about-us/about-hnlu|publisher=Hidayatullah National Law University|accessdate=28 September 2014|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140910021917/http://hnlu.ac.in/HNLU_New/home2/index.php/about-us/about-hnlu|archivedate=10 September 2014}}</ref>


⚫
In February 2014, Dattu was nominated by then CJI [[P Sathasivam]] as the CJI's nominee to the five-membered panel to appoint the [[Lokpal]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Esthose Suresh|first1=Appu|title=CJI nominates Justice Dattu to Lokpal selection panel|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/cji-nominates-justice-dattu-to-lokpal-selection-panel/|access-date=15 October 2014|work=Indian Express|date=3 February 2014}}</ref> He is the visitor of [[Hidayatullah National Law University|Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur]].<ref name=HNLU>{{cite web|title=About HNLU|url=http://hnlu.ac.in/HNLU_New/home2/index.php/about-us/about-hnlu|publisher=Hidayatullah National Law University|access-date=28 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140910021917/http://hnlu.ac.in/HNLU_New/home2/index.php/about-us/about-hnlu|archive-date=10 September 2014}}</ref>
⚫
In February 2016, Dattu began serving as the chairperson of the [[National Human Rights Commission of India]].<ref name=BStd20160229 />


⚫
In February 2016, Dattu began serving as the chairperson of the [[National Human Rights Commission of India]] and where he served till 2 December 2020.<ref name=BStd20160229 />
==Personality==
Dattu is known for his penchant for hard work and has few outings with his family and friends. He describes former CJI [[S. Rajendra Babu]] as his guru. He has also contributed in the field of social work under organisations like the Rotary Club. He is a fervent devotee of [[Tirupati Balaji]] and [[Ganesha|Sri Ganesha]]. He is also a connoisseur of [[Carnatic music]].<ref name=NIE /> He is known for his hard work and, is considered as a disciplinarian.<ref name=NIE-hard />


==Personal life==
Dattu is known for his humanistic approach towards justice system. On a noted incident, he gave justice to an old woman who appealed against a bank which denied job for her granddaughter due to passing the deadline for applying. He ruled out this deadline and asked the bank to consider it as a special case on the grounds that the old woman was uneducated, she can hardly understand the regulations and also considering the helplessness of the grand old woman. While he was Chief Justice of Chhattisgarh High court in 2007, he gave a decision justifying the permanent job status for all temporary contract jobs employees working in the High Court of Chhattisgarh.
Dattu is a connoisseur of [[Carnatic music]].<ref name=NIE /> He is known for his hard work and, is considered as a disciplinarian.<ref name=NIE-hard />


==Controversy==
==Allegations==


Dattu had corruption charges leveled against him before he became chief justice. [[Markandey Katju|Justice Katju]] has taken up the issue in his blog posts, where he called for Dattu's impeachment on charges of corruption.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rao |first=Krishnaraj |title=Katju's challenge - Impeach Dattu or jail me for contempt |url=https://www.saddahaq.com/katjus-challenge-impeach-dattu-or-jail-me-for-contempt |date=13 June 2015 |website=Saddahaq.com |access-date=14 June 2016}}</ref>
Dattu had corruption charges levelled against him before he became chief justice. [[Markandey Katju|Justice Katju]] has taken up the issue in his blog posts, where he called for Dattu's impeachment on charges of corruption.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rao |first=Krishnaraj |title=Katju's challenge – Impeach Dattu or jail me for contempt |url=https://www.saddahaq.com/katjus-challenge-impeach-dattu-or-jail-me-for-contempt |date=13 June 2015 |website=Saddahaq.com |access-date=14 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Katju |first=Markandey |title=The Supreme Court's Remarks Against Sanjiv Bhatt Violate Its Own Earlier Verdicts |url=http://thewire.in/2015/10/15/the-supreme-courts-remarks-against-sanjiv-bhatt-violate-its-own-earlier-verdicts-13295/ |date=15 October 2015 |website=Thewire.in |access-date=15 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605064952/http://thewire.in/2015/10/15/the-supreme-courts-remarks-against-sanjiv-bhatt-violate-its-own-earlier-verdicts-13295/ |archive-date=5 June 2016 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>


He is also accused of favouritism and of rendering biased verdicts. He is considered close to the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) and has openly praised the BJP leader and Indian prime minister [[Narendra Modi]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Katju |first=Markandey |title=The Supreme Court’s Remarks Against Sanjiv Bhatt Violate Its Own Earlier Verdicts |url=http://thewire.in/2015/10/15/the-supreme-courts-remarks-against-sanjiv-bhatt-violate-its-own-earlier-verdicts-13295/ |date=15 October 2015 |website=Thewire.in |access-date=15 June 2016}}</ref>
Dattu was also involved in controversy after he asked for the names of whistleblowers to be revealed in the [[2G spectrum case]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Gopinath |first=Vrinda |title=Chief Justice in Waiting HL Dattu is not good news for civil society and investigating journalists, says Vrinda Gopinath |url=http://www.altgaze.com/?p=1708 |date=24 September 2014 |website=Altgaze.com |access-date=15 June 2016}}</ref>
Dattu was also involved in controversy after he asked for the names of whistleblowers to be revealed in the [[2G spectrum case]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Gopinath |first=Vrinda |title=
Chief Justice in Waiting HL Dattu is not good news for civil society and investigating journalists, says Vrinda Gopinath |url=http://www.altgaze.com/?p=1708 |date=24 September 2014 |website=Altgaze.com |access-date=15 June 2016}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|30em}}
{{reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{commons category|H. L. Dattu}}
{{commons category|H. L. Dattu}}
* [http://www.legallyindia.com/201409285127/Bar-Bench-Litigation/welcome-chief-justice-of-india-hl-dattu-sworn-in-for-14-month-term Welcome CJI Dattu: 16-hour-workday judge who knows ‘common man’, sworn in for giant 14-month term]


{{s-start}}
{{s-start}}
{{S-legal}}
{{S-legal}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Rajendra Mal Lodha]] }}
{{s-bef|before=[[Rajendra Mal Lodha]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[Chief Justice of India]] |years = 28 September 2014 - 2 December 2015 }}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Chief Justice of India]]|years=2014–2015}}
{{s-aft|after = [[T. S. Thakur]] }}
{{s-aft|after=[[T. S. Thakur]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{s-end}}


{{Chief Justices of India}}
{{Chief Justices of India}}

{{authority control}}
{{authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Dattu, H. L.}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dattu, H. L.}}

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[[Category:Chief Justices of India]]
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[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1950 births]]
[[Category:1950 births]]
[[Category:Justices of the Supreme Court of India]]
[[Category:Living people]]
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[[Category:Chief Justices of the Kerala High Court]]
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[[Category:Judges of the Karnataka High Court]]
[[Category:Kannada people]]
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[[Category:20th-century Indian lawyers]]
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[[Category:Chief Justices of Chhattisgarh High Court]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian judges]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian judges]]
[[Category:People from Chikkamagaluru district]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian lawyers]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian lawyers]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian judges]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian judges]]
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[[Category:21st-century Indian lawyers]]
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[[Category:Chief justices of India]]
[[Category:Chief justices of Chhattisgarh High Court]]
[[Category:Chief justices of the Kerala High Court]]
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[[Category:Judges of the Karnataka High Court]]
[[Category:Justices of the Supreme Court of India]]
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[[Category:Kannada people]]
[[Category:People from Chikmagalur district]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Rajyotsava Award 2018]]

Latest revision as of 10:01, 30 September 2024

H. L. Dattu
42nd Chief Justice of India
In office
28 September 2014 – 2 December 2015
Appointed byPranab Mukherjee
Preceded byRajendra Mal Lodha
Succeeded byT. S. Thakur
Judge of the Supreme Court of India
In office
17 December 2008 – 28 September 2014
Judge of the High Court of Karnataka
In office
18 December 1995 – 12 February 2007
Chief Justice of the Chhattisgarh High Court
In office
12 February 2007 – 18 May 2007
Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court
In office
18 May 2007 – 17 December 2008
Personal details
Born (1950-12-03) 3 December 1950 (age 74)
Chikkapattanagere, Chikmagalur, Mysore State (present-day Karnataka), India

Handyala Lakshminarayanaswamy Dattu (born 3 December 1950) is a former Chief Justice of India,[1] and the former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission.[2] As the chief justice, he served for nearly 14 months, from 28 September 2014 to 2 December 2015. Before his elevation as a judge of the Supreme Court of India on 17 December 2008; he had served as the Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court and the Chhattisgarh High Court.[3][4][5][6]

Early life and education

[edit]

Handyala Lakshminarayanaswamy Dattu was born in Chikkapattanagere village in Chikmagalur district of Mysore State (present-day Karnataka). His father H L Narayanaswamy was an English teacher. He completed his early education in Kadur, Tarikere, and Birur, before moving to Bengaluru where he completed his Bachelor of Laws.[7][8]

Career

[edit]

As a lawyer

[edit]

Dattu was enrolled as an advocate at the bar on 23 October 1975. He practised at Bengaluru in civil, criminal, constitutional, and taxation matters. He appeared as government counsel in the Karnataka High court for the sales tax department from 1983 to 1990, government advocate from 1990 to 1993, standing counsel for the income tax department from 1992 to 1993, and a senior standing counsel for the Income Tax department from 1993 to 1995.[3][4]

As a judge

[edit]

Dattu was appointed a judge of the Karnataka High Court on 18 December 1995. Thereafter, on 12 February 2007; he was elevated as Chief Justice of the Chhattisgarh High Court. On 18 May 2007, he was transferred to head the Kerala High Court.[3] On 5 September 2014, the President of India had appointed Dattu as the next Chief Justice of India, on the recommendation of CJI Rajendra Mal Lodha. On 28 September 2014, he was sworn in as the 42nd Chief Justice of India.[9] He held the post for a little over a year until his retirement on 2 December 2015, on turning 65 years of age – one of the longest tenures for a CJI in recent years.[3][4]

Over the course of his tenure on the Supreme Court, Dattu authored 117 judgments.[10]

In February 2014, Dattu was nominated by then CJI P Sathasivam as the CJI's nominee to the five-membered panel to appoint the Lokpal.[11] He is the visitor of Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur.[12]

In February 2016, Dattu began serving as the chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission of India and where he served till 2 December 2020.[2]

Personal life

[edit]

Dattu is a connoisseur of Carnatic music.[3] He is known for his hard work and, is considered as a disciplinarian.[7]

Allegations

[edit]

Dattu had corruption charges levelled against him before he became chief justice. Justice Katju has taken up the issue in his blog posts, where he called for Dattu's impeachment on charges of corruption.[13][14]

Dattu was also involved in controversy after he asked for the names of whistleblowers to be revealed in the 2G spectrum case.[15]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Hon'ble Mr. Justice Handyala Lakshminarayanaswamy Dattu". Supreme Court of India. Archived from the original on 29 March 2010. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
  2. ^ a b "Justice H.L. Dattu joins NHRC as Chairperson". Business Standard. ANI. 29 February 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Justice H L Dattu Sworn-in as Chief Justice of India". New Indian Express. No. IANS & ENS. IANS & ENS. 28 September 2014. Archived from the original on 28 September 2014. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  4. ^ a b c "Welcome Chief Justice of India HL Dattu: Sworn in for 14-month term". No. Legally India. IANS. 28 September 2014. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  5. ^ "Hon'ble Mr. Justice H.L. Dattu". Supreme Court of India. Archived from the original on 22 September 2014. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  6. ^ "Chief Justice H. L. Dattu". Kerala High Court. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  7. ^ a b Sarda, Kanu (28 September 2014). "Hard Taskmaster Dattu Steps in as CJI". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 28 September 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
  8. ^ Anand, Utkarsh. "Next Chief Justice a 'court employee' who guards his personal space". Indian Express. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
  9. ^ "Justice HL Dattu appointed next Chief Justice of India". Times of India. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  10. ^ "HL Dattu". Supreme Court Observer. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  11. ^ Esthose Suresh, Appu (3 February 2014). "CJI nominates Justice Dattu to Lokpal selection panel". Indian Express. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  12. ^ "About HNLU". Hidayatullah National Law University. Archived from the original on 10 September 2014. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  13. ^ Rao, Krishnaraj (13 June 2015). "Katju's challenge – Impeach Dattu or jail me for contempt". Saddahaq.com. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  14. ^ Katju, Markandey (15 October 2015). "The Supreme Court's Remarks Against Sanjiv Bhatt Violate Its Own Earlier Verdicts". Thewire.in. Archived from the original on 5 June 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  15. ^ Gopinath, Vrinda (24 September 2014). "Chief Justice in Waiting HL Dattu is not good news for civil society and investigating journalists, says Vrinda Gopinath". Altgaze.com. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
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Preceded by Chief Justice of India
2014–2015 		Succeeded by
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